I first became aware of the animal rights movement in the late 1980's. Prior to this I suppose I
naively assumed that animals had always had rights.
That, as the lot of mankind improved and progressed theirs did as well. I never would have imagined that I would become so committed to such a cause
to which the opposing view seems to defy basic human logic, emotion, religious doctrine and spiritual attainment. Also self preservation,
as in preservation of our environment, the animals being a part of that.
I have seen adults shed tears over pet goldfish gone
belly-up only to drop by their favorite fast food restaurant and order the carcass of some miserable,
abused animal. An animal whose entire life was a nightmare of suffering, if not a living hell on earth.
I can still remember my initial shock,
disgust and rage upon first seeing photos and graphic descriptions of factory farmed animals in their miserable little bins and cages!
Being abused and kicked, even on their way to slaughter.
The horror stories of veal crates, downed animals dragged by chains, conscious animals sent through meat packing! Years later, the animal rights movement has become more mainstreamed.
Yet, the struggle is measured in small victories.
Case in point. Freedom of speech, except for you! Dr. Steven Best's article details his experiences as an attendee of
an unprecedented college conference at CSU Fresno called Revolutionary Environmentalism.
Apparently, there was a media hysteria preceding this conference, which invited members of the groups ALF and ELF for open debate and discussion with students and teachers.
Members of local agribusinesses, were also invited to attend, but declined.
Most of the negative publicity was due to a slanderous slam dunk of a Special Report by the self described
The Center for Consumer Freedom
is one of the more active of several
front groups created by Berman & Co., a public affairs firm owned by lobbyist Based in Washington, DC, Berman & Co. represents the tobacco
industry as well as hotels, beer distributors, taverns and restaurant chains.
The group actively opposes smoking bans and lowering the legal blood-alcohol level. Contributors to this nonprofit, which solicits donations in the help us section of it's website,
reads like a who's who for the corporate food industry and include: Armour-Swift, Bestfoods, Max & Erma's Restaurants, Applebee's, Custom Cuts, Ruby Tuesday, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Coca Cola, Marie Calendar,
Outback Steakhouse, Sugar Foods Corporation, National Steak and Poultry, Tyson Foods, Wendy's, White Castle and Perdue Farms among many others. This information was obtained by the Center for Media
and Democracy, through a whistleblower. This group also opposes raising the minimum wage. The IRS Form 990 which it filed for the 6 month period from July to December 1999
(under the name of Guest Choice Network) showed that almost all of it's financial support came from a handful of anonymous sources. It received no income from membership dues. Like other front groups, CCF is
headquartered at the following address:
Berman & Co.
1775 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20006
202 463-7110
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